Amino acids markets: Lysine and threonine firmer in China

Lysine prices ex-China continue to be stable. Manufacturers have no incentive right now to lower prices and will form their opinions again after the Golden Week (holiday) that is coming up in China. Photo: Canva

Prices for lysine hcl and threonine on a FOB China basis are a bit firmer this week, especially threonine. No immediate actions seen in the market though. Local prices are starting to stabilise as the steepest price decline in container freight seems to be over now and things look like they are bottoming out. Learn more in this week’s feed additives snapshot (week 39).

The methionine market is still static in terms of market dynamics and a bit weakish in terms of price movement. Still no changes seen on tryptophan, it is mostly stable to weak. Valine and arginine are stable to weak at very low price levels.

In partnership with Feed Additive Prices

Lysine

Prices ex-China continue to be stable. Manufacturers have no incentive right now to lower prices and will form their opinions again after the Golden Week (holiday) that is coming up in China. Prices offered for Q1 to some export regions are considerably lower compared to the current spot price as container freight prices have declined a lot. However, there is a lot of uncertainty about potential anti-dumping measures in Europe and upcoming EUDR regulations. Some suppliers are offering 2024 stock for Q1 at a fixed price, with a significant premium. Most buyers are not ready to buy anything yet for Q1. The market is quiet and mostly contracted for Q4.

AMINO ACID PRICES: Here the market prices of 3 important amino acids are tracked – check it out…

Threonine

Chinese manufacturers are trying to increase prices in China locally, but also FOB export prices have increased by a few cents. In the local regions, there has been some downward price pressure due to the declining container freight rates recently. Although most of that has been absorbed by now. Buyers do need to contract some material still for Q4 but have a wait-and-see attitude. The market is quiet.

DL-Methionine

Very quiet market in which there seems to be enough material available and no current disruptions are seen either. Prices vary from one week to another between stable to slightly weaker and there is hardly any activity reported. Buyers have contracted most of Q4 by now. No significant changes are expected in the short term.

Tryptophan

Although the market is weak, this week there is not a lot of further price decline seen or reported. There is a wait-and-see attitude in the market and hardly any transactions are made and prices seem to be stable this week. The market is quiet now, and a portion of Q4 still needs to be contracted.

Valine

Valine continues to be weak as suppliers try to maintain and/or gain market share in all key regions. Significant new capacity has been brought onto the market this year and that has led to the current low price level and no signs of a reverse in that trend is seen in the short term. Historically low price points are seen now. A relatively large portion of Q4 still needs to be contracted.